Name: The Marriage Course (online)
Start: 2026-01-06T00:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-01-06T23:59:59+01:00
Location: Online

St Stephen’s hosts National Churches Trust event

Wednesday May 14th 2025

The Rev Canon Jim and Heather Carson with volunteers at the National Churches Trust event in St Stephen’s.

St Stephen’s, Millfield, hosted the National Churches Trust’s Resilient & Sustainable Church Buildings conference on May 6.

The following report was shared by the National Churches Trust.

This week’s event in Belfast was more than just a gathering, it was a powerful moment of connection, conversation, people, and place. We brought together a wide range of voices from across the heritage community and those who care deeply about the future of our faith buildings.

Church buildings are loved, not only by those who worship in them, but by the communities in which they stand and the wider public who see them as part of our shared landscape. We urgently need to talk about these buildings before doors are shut and opportunities are lost.

A heartfelt thank you to Jim and Heather Carson from St Stephen’s, Millfield, and their incredible team of church volunteers. Their kindness, commitment, and seamless support throughout the day were a reminder that volunteers are the backbone of places of worship, deeply connected, deeply committed, and absolutely vital to their future.

Huge thanks to our insightful speakers for sharing their expertise and perspectives:

Gavin Burns, Historic Environment Division (HED)
Sebastian Graham, Ulster Architectural Heritage (UAH)
Emma McBride, HERoNI Archives
Rita Harkin, Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF)
Dr Emma Hannah, The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Sarah Crossland, National Churches Trust
Emma McAleer, Rural Community Network
James Cromey, Great Place North Belfast
Dr William Roulston, Ulster Historical Foundation

And to our excellent panellists for an honest discussion on both the challenges and the opportunities:

Alina Holyst, Deputy Chair, Institute of Historic Building Conservation (NI Branch)
Rachael Power, Community Relations Officer, Rural Community Network
Aiden O’Donovan, Senior Architect, HLM Architects
Lynda Gould, Project Coordinator, Faith-based Engagement (NICVA)

One of the many speakers at the National Churches Trust event.

It was great to welcome Sarah Crossland, Head of Engagement at National Churches Trust who spoke powerfully about the importance of opening church doors to new uses, new visitors, and new futures.

There are undoubtedly challenges ahead but this event reaffirmed that there are also real opportunities, and a heritage community ready to provide support.

This event was made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund with thanks to Lottery Players. It was also supported by Historic Environment Division at the Department for Communities.

Be part of the conversation.

Our next Places of Worship Forum will take place at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gracehill in the historic Gracehill Moravian Church, June 20 from 2pm. All welcome.